Grad Girls Network is a community based network of mentors, volunteers, sponsors and partners that reaches middle and high school girls in various communities although we primarily direct our efforts to reach students in underserved areas. With over 520,000 of the estimated dropouts from the class of 2007 being girls, we seek to provide teen girls with resources and opportunities to positively influence their futures and the futures of their fellow peers.
Because many of the negative decisions that middle and high school girls make are directly affected by the influence of their peers, program also educates girls on how to become a better asset to their communities, which contributes to assisting them with becoming the next generation of influencers.
Though it is important for teens to have adult role models, peer acceptance has a major impact on the decisions that students make and Grad Girls Network has created several programs to interact girls with professional women serving as mentors who assist with shaping the futures of the teens which empowers students to then assist other girls with shaping theirs.
Because over 75% of the girls who we serve reported having at least one parent who did not graduate from high school, we provide students with an environment that we believe is essential for young women to grow and learn as people and as leaders capable of inspiring generations to come.
A firm believer in paying it forward, Kaneisha has embarked on a journey of giving back. A native of St. Louis, MO and raised in Hollywood, CA, Kaneisha has come from a linage of givers which has included her Great Grandparents, her Grandmother, her Mother and now passed to her. Being a product of a single parent and low income household taught her to be compassionate about reaching out to others.
As a student at Alexander Hamilton High School, she carried many roles including serving as Junior Class President, News Editor of the school newspaper, and had the honor of being voted “Most Likely to Succeed” by her high school peers. Upon entering college at Clark Atlanta University, she served as a volunteer campus tour guide for prospective students and was also a contributing writer to the campus newspaper “The Panther.” During her senior year of college she launched the “Touch a Life” mentor awareness campaign for underserved children in an East Atlanta community to bring awareness to the need for positive influences through college students who also resided in the neighborhood.
Kaneisha has worked in Entertainment Public Relations and has also served as a guest speaker for many organizations including the College Bound Program at the Boys and Girls Club of Venice in Los Angeles and the California Federation of Business and Professional Women District and State Conferences. She is currently completing her graduate studies with a Masters Degree in Leadership and Management from the University of La Verne. This lady is on the move to reach out and help others and make a difference and was recently featured on KTLA Channel 5 News’ Heroes at Home segment recognizing her efforts for working with girls in the community.